SACE Condemns Utility-led Assault Against Solar Net Metering in the Florida Legislature
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) condemns the current, utility-led assault in the Florida Legislature against net metering and the jobs it creates. Through Senate Bill 1024 and House Bill 741, the state’s biggest power company is misleading legislators with an unsubstantiated myth about customers without solar being forced to “subsidize” customers with solar. They are also trying to convince lawmakers to disregard personal property rights and Floridians’ desire for energy freedom.
Net metering allows electricity customers to generate power themselves with rooftop solar and offset it against the electricity they buy from their utility. They receive a credit for any excess solar power they don’t use, which is returned to the grid to serve nearby customers.
Net metering empowers Floridians to make choices in how they receive and pay for electricity. In addition, net metering:
- Is supported by 93% of Florida voters
- Supports nearly 40,500 local jobs in Florida
- Contributes over $18 billion to the state’s economy
Currently, Florida produces the third most electricity from solar panels in the country. Given that the rooftop solar industry supports nearly 40,500 jobs and contributes more than $18 billion to the state’s economy, undermining Floridians’ right to net metering would have a devastating impact on the state’s economy at a time when we can least afford it.
We must protect solar freedom that 93% of Florida voters support and not sacrifice the distributed solar industry that represents $18 billion of economic impact to our state for the benefit of big monopoly utility interests.
Take Action: Tell the Florida legislature to preserve solar net metering